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The Symbols on HK Firearms

The Symbols and Other Markings On HK Firearms

One of the most often asked questions about HK firearms comes shortly after the proud new owner brings his prized new HK home, and starts looking closely at the gun. There are a number of unfamiliar symbols on the guns that I will explain here.

In the above example, the Chantilly import P7M8 has a serial number of 86912. Simple enough. What about the other symbols? What is the funny character with the 'N' under it? What does 'IE' mean? What is the symbol next to the 'IE'?

The character with the 'N' under it is an eagle with spread wings. This is called the 'Bundesadler' and roughly translated means 'federal eagle." It is used on many German federal insignia. The 'N' stands for "Nitrozellulose" (Neetro-tselluloze) or "Nitrocellulose" in English. This is a universal symbol found on German firearms that use modern nitrocellulose based propellants. The 'IE' is the date code. More on that in a minute.

The symbol to the right of the date code is a stag horn. It is the symbol of a particular proof house, located in Ulm, Germany. German firearms are sent to proof houses before sale, for inspection and quality control. This is much like a 'UL' listing for American small appliances. There are other proof houses, for example, in Kiel and Hannover, Germany, but HK uses the Ulm proof house exclusively. Here is a link to the Beschussamt Ulm web page: (In German)

There have been many P7 pistols imported into the United States that have had a certain mark removed from the slide prior to export from Germany. Many have wondered what that mark looked like, and what it meant. HKPRO members have solved the puzzle. The mark is illustrated below:

The BWB is from the German "Bundesamt für Wehrtechnik und Beschaffung" or "Federal Bureau of Military Technical Procurement."

The date coding system is very simple too. It gets tricky when you start talking about non-proofed products like firearm magazines, but the general rule is thus:

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

I

K

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

The letter corresponds to the number. The letter 'J' is skipped for proofed firearms, but is present on magazines. Therefore, the P7 above was manufactured in "84" or 1984.

AUSFÜHRUNG WHAT? The various and confusing roller locked "Versions."

Many of the models of the roller locked guns have another number behind them that can cause a great deal of confusion. Ausführung is German for "version." This should help:

As a general rule:

A1

Buttcap Only

MP5A1

A2

Fixed Stock/Full Auto

MP5A2

A3

Retractable Stock/Full Auto

MP5A3

A4

Fixed Stock and Burst Group

MP5A4

A5

Retractable Stock and Burst Group

MP5A5

A6

For SD only retractable/Burst Group

MP5SD6

The SD series goes SD4 buttcap only with burst group, to SD6 retractable stock with burst group. The 'A' is not used when describing the SD versions. There are exceptions that only familiarity with the weapon system distinguishes. For example, you might say HK33KA3, but not HK33KA5, even though it would be correct. This is primarily because the HK33 was never available with a burst group option until a few years ago, and the gun is now discontinued. The main departure from this nomenclature is on the G3. See the G3 page for more detail there. Another departure is the MP5KA1, which has no traditional sights. With a burst group, it is called the MP5KA4. Go figure.

Most recent manufactured HK firearms (within the last 10-15 years or so) have specific numeric prefixes to their serial numbers that denote models by caliber and type. What significance these numbers have or how they are chosen, I do not know at this time. Here is a listing of several of the models and their serial number prefixes. I will add to these as I get more of them. Most all older HK firearms do not have prefixes at all, or just a single letter prefix. UPDATED 2.21.2008

Serial Number Prefix

Firearm

11-

HK33KE

15-

P7 PSP

16-

P7M8

17-

P7M13

18-

P7K3

USA-

Some P7K3 US imports

21-

P7M10

21-

SP-89

22-

USP40F/Expert

23-

Mk23 SOCOM

24-

USP9F/Expert

25-

USP45F/Expert/Tactical/Match

26-

USP40C

27-

USP9C

28-

USP357C

29-

USP45C

39-

SLB2000

41-

HK91 and 911 (most 80s models)

42-

HK93 (most 80s models)

43-

HK94 (most 80s models)

44-

PSG1

45-

MSG90

46-

SR9

47-

USC45

48-

SL8-1/4/5/6

57-

GMG

58-

AG-C/EGLM

62-

MP5 9mm

63-

MP5SD

64-

HK33E

74-

46-

76-

HK53

84-

G36K

85-

G36C

88-

HK416

89-

HK417

92-

HK21E

94-

HK23E

96-

MG4

111-

USPC .357 SIG

114-

P10

115-

P8

116-

P2000

122-

P2000SK .40 S&W

123-

P2000US

125-

P2000SK

126-

HK45F

129-

P30

163-

UMP45

251-

XM320/AG416

There are other symbols on the receivers, barrels, bolt carriers and magazines that are confusing as well. The best information that I have found on these areas is indicated by the diagrams below.